Traders at Kumo Main Market in Akko Local Government Area of Gombe State are counting their losses following an early morning fire outbreak that destroyed several shops and valuable goods on Sunday.
The fire reportedly started around 2:00 a.m. and spread rapidly through parts of the busy market, affecting container shops, stores, and foodstuff stalls, many of which were fully stocked at the time of the incident.
Due to the intensity and speed of the blaze, affected traders were unable to salvage their goods before the shops were completely consumed by the fire. The incident caused significant economic hardship, particularly for small-scale traders who depend on daily sales for survival.
The scale of destruction was worsened by the absence of an immediate fire service response, leaving residents and traders to rely on local efforts to contain the fire. The blaze was eventually brought under control before it could spread to the entire market.
As of the time of filing this report, the cause of the fire remains unknown. Meanwhile, traders affected by the incident have called on the government and relevant authorities to improve fire safety measures and strengthen emergency response systems within the market to prevent future occurrences.
